Jenks: Spring Comes Again

By Jorian Jenks. This book is a summation of BUF agricultural policy, as drawn up by one of Oswald Mosely’s most senior lieutenants.  He favoured agricultural autarky for Britain, import controls and the establishment of an Agricultural Land Bank in order to make farm debt more manageable.

In addition, he wanted an Agricultural Corporation to set prices and fit in with the BUF corporatist economic policy. Landowners who were seen to be misusing their land would also be subject to compulsory purchase, with a Volunteer Land Army established to restore the reclaimed territory.

Jenks' ideas had an impact on government policy, as moves towards agricultural self-sufficiency became the cornerstone of policy in the late 1940s whilst earlier initiatives such as the British Empire Economic Conference and Import Duties Act 1932 were based on Jenks' protectionist vision. The Defence Regulations included DR49 which allowed for compulsory land purchase, whilst the Agriculture Act 1947 allowed for price-fixing as Jenks had suggested.

When Mosely was detained under the notorious Defence Regulation 18B, he named Jenks as temporary leader of the BUF. Jenks was however detained as well, and after his release in 1941, withdrew from active politics. P/B 114 pp. Extremely rare reprint.